Display carton



y 1951 R. J. HENNESSEY 2,554,190

DISPLAY CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1946 Filed Nov. 29, 1946 y 1951 R. J. HENNESSEY 2,554,190

DISPLAY CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W I if mfi l 27 L39 pin zz 3 m \N! 45 l "l 40 3| 52 4\ Fl 5. s ,ZEM Z J1 Patented May 22, 19511 DISPLAY CARTON Russell J. Hennessey,

Waldorf Paper St. Paul, Minn, assignor to Products Company, St. Paul,

Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application November 29, 1946, Serial No. 712,831

My invention relates to an improvement in dis play cartons and deals more particularly with a carton designed to contain canned goods or similar material.

In the merchandising of food and the like, it

is often desirable to seal a combination of items as aunit. In such an event one container may contain one type of material and another a second material used in conjunction with the first material when the two containers are open. For example a combination of items may be sold as a unit to be used in the making of chow mein. One container may contain noodles, while the second can may contain the meat and vegetable combination used with the noodles. A third container may contain sauce or flavoring used on the products. It is desirable that these containers be held together for convenience in handling and selling. The object of the present invention is to provide a carton for containing one or more cans or similar containers. The carton is so arranged that a large portion of the can or container is visible to prospective customers for advertising purposes. At the same time the carton is so designed as to hold the containers securely in place when thus displayed.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of opposed flaps on the inner walls of the container which engage within the recessed ends of the cans and hold the cans from accidental disengagement from the containers. As a result it is not necessary to provide a strap or band extending about the cans to hold them in the carton.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a carton having an open side through which the cans contained may be seen. The tabs or flaps anchoring the cans in the carton are concealed by the walls of the carton, and while no visible means is provided for holding thecans in place, they are firmly locked in the carton. As a result a carton is provided which provides a clear view of the contents, but which will securely hold the contents in proper position.

An added feature of the present invention resides in the provision of flap means which engage into the recessed ends of cans or similar containers at a point closely adjacent a wall of the container. As a result the cans are efiectively held against a container Wall to prevent movement of the can or cans within the carton.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my carton 12 Claims. (01. 206-65) 2 shown. supporting a pair of cans and a small bottle.

Figure 2 is a view of the carton shown in Figure l with the contents thereof removed.

Figure 3 is a sectional View through the carton showing the manner in which the cans are held in place therein.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the carton blank in partially folded condition.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the carton blank from which the carton is formed.

As best illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings the carton A includes a base panel In which is hingedly connected along parallel fold line I I and E2 to side wall panels l3 and I4. The side wall panel I3 is connected along the fold line 15 to a side wall liner panel Iii, which in turn is connected along the fold line H to an anchoring flap [9. The side wall panel I4 is connected along the fold line 20 to a side wall liner panel 2 I, which in turn is connected along the fold line 22 to the bottom liner panel 23.

The base panel [0 is connected along parallel fold lines 24 and 25, which intersect the fold lines l l and [2 to end wall panels 26 and 21, respectively. The panel 26- is connected by the fold line 29 to the end wall liner panel as. The end wall 2'! is similarly connected along the fold line 3| to the end wall liner panel 32.

The end wall panel 26 is connected along its opposite edges by fold lines 33 and 34 to locking flaps 35 and 36. The end wall 21 is similarly connected by parallel fold lines 3'! and 39 to locking flaps 40 and 4!. The locking flaps 35, 36, M1 and 4| hold the side and end walls in vertical or upright position relative to the base ID as will be later described.

The locking flap 35 is slotted at 42, while the locking flap 40 is slotted at 43. The slots 42 and 43 extend inwardly from opposite edges of the respective flaps 35 and 49 so as to permit these flaps 35 and 40 to be interlocked together as best illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. The flaps 36 and 4| are similarly slotted at 44 and 45, respectively, so as to permit the flaps 35 and 4| to be interlocked together.

When the flaps 35 and 40 and the flaps 36 and 4! are interlocked together the end walls 26 and 27 are held in vertical upright position, and the respective locking flaps also extend vertically, relative to the base ID.

A pair of flaps or tabs 46 and 4! are formed in the liner panel I6. These flaps or tabs are designed to engage against the inner surface of the rim of a can or similar container such as B. The flap 46 is shown as having parallel side edges 49 and an arcuated free edge 50. The flap 46 is connected to the remainder of the panel it along the fold line 5|. The flap 41 is similarly provided with substantially parallel side edges 52 and an arcuate free edge 53. The flap 41 is connected to the remainder of the panel l6 along the fold line 54.

Similar flaps 55 and 56 are formed in the liner panel 2|. The flap 55 includes side edges 51 and an arcuated free edge 59. The flap 56 includes the side edges 69 and the arcuated free edge 6|. The tabs 55 and 56 are connected to the remainder of the panel 2| along aligned fold lines 62 and 63.

If desired a strap or band may be provided extending across the top of the carton to hold a bottle such as C. This band may be formed of two sections which may be interlocked together. The band section 54 is connected along a fold line 65 to the panel I3 and is defined by generally parallel =cut lines 55 and an end out line 61. The band portion 69 is shown connected to the panel l4 along the fold line 29 and is defined by spaced slots or cut lines If! and H and a connecting end out line 12. Thus the strap portions 64 and 69 are for the most part out from the carton stock used in the formation of the side wall liner panels and may be folded and interlocked across the open side of the carton.

An aperture 13 may be provided in the strap portion 69 through which the bottle C may be viewed. oppositely extending slots 74 are pro vided in the band sections 64 and 69 respectively to permit the interlocking of these band portions together, as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

- The carton is set up as best indicated in Figures 2 and i of the drawings. The end walls 26 and. 2? are first folded at right angles to the base panel I5 and the locking flaps 35 and 45 are interlocked and the locking flaps 35 and 4| are interlocked. The carton will then assume the position illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings. The end 'wall liner panels 30 and 32 are folded down into the carton and the side wall panel I3 is folded to lie outwardly of the interlocked flaps 35 and 4B. The side wall liner panel i6 is next folded interiorly of the flaps 35 and 45, the anchoring flap l9 lying flat against the base panel l0.

' The side wall panel I4 is next folded to lie outwardly of the interlocked flaps 36 and 4| and the liner panel 2| i folded to lie inwardly of these same locking flaps. The panel 23 is folded down to overlie the base panel l0 and the anchoring fiap l9, thus holding the carton assembled.

The flaps 46, A1, 55 and 56 normally have a tendency to spring inwardly because of the score lines connecting these flaps to the respective adjacent liner panels. However, before the liner panels are folded to lie inwardly of the locking flaps, these flaps 46 41, 55 and 56 are bent inwardly so as to lie out of the plane of the remainder of these panels. The cans B are next inserted into the carton, these cans spreading apart the locking flaps until the marginal rims of the cans pass the free ends of the flaps whereupon these flaps spring inwardly sufliciently to engage against the inner surface of the cam rim as best illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. When thus engaged the package may be inverted or turned in any direction, the flaps securely holding the cans in place.

In the particular construction illustrated the bottle C is next placed between the cans B near the wall panel 2| and the strap portions 64 and '69 are folded to overlie this bottle. The ends of the strap portions are next interlocked as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, thus holding the bottle C in proper position.

The carton thus formed is capable of holding one or more cans or similar containers without disclosing any visible means for holding the cans to the carton. The flaps which act to hold the cans in place are concealed between the ends of the cans and the adjacent walls of the carton and thus do not detract from the display. Because of this construction the carton itself need not bear advertising material as the labels of the cans themselves serve to provide the necessary display. If desired, however, the walls of the container may be suitably decorated.

When on display the cartons are often turned as best illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing so that the cans are upright. Thus in speaking of the panel Ill as a base panel, I do not mean to imply that this panel must of necessity form the bottom of the carton.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and op eration of my display carton, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that this is only illustrative thereof and that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A carton in combination with a recessed end can, said can having peripheral projecting flanges encircling its ends, the carton including walls for partially enclosing the can, two of said walls being in substantially parallel relationship and extending parallel to the recessed ends of said recessed end can, and flap means on said two parallel walls extending into the adjacent recessed container end and engageable with the peripheral flange encircling the recessed end to hold the can between said parallel walls, the recessed can ends limiting the extent to which the flap means may fold out of the plane of said parallel walls.

2. A carton in combination with recessed end cans, said cans having peripheral projecting flanges at opposite ends, said carton comprising a base Wall and side walls connected thereto, two of said side walls being in opposed relationship and extending transversely of the ends of the cans, and flaps on said opposed walls. said flaps being bent out of the plane of said opposed walls within said flanges and against the recessed ends of said can and marginally engaging said flanges, said flaps holding said can adjacent said base wall.

3. A carton in combination with recessed end cans, said cans having peripheral projecting flanges at opposite ends, said carton including a base wall, a series of Side walls connected thereto, two of said walls being in opposed relation and overlying at least a part of the recessed ends of said can, said can being positioned adjacent said base walls between said side walls, and flap means on each of said two opposed walls, said flap means being bent from the plane of said side walls and extending against the recessed ends of said can, said flaps marginally engaging that portion of the projecting flanges of said recessed ends which lie adjacent to said base wall.

4. A carton in combination with a recessed end can, said can having a peripheral projecting flange encircling opposite ends thereof, said carton comprising a base wall and a series of side walls connected thereto, flap means on two opposed side walls, said two opposed side walls being designed to extend over at least a portion of the recessed ends of said can, said flap means being hingedly connected to their respective walls at a point spaced from said base wall and extending toward said base wall, said flaps being engageable against said recessed ends of said can and marginally engaging said flanges to hold the same against said base wall.

5. A carton in combination with a can, said can having opposite recessed ends encircled by a peripheral projecting flange, said carton comprising a base wall, a series of side walls connected thereto, two opposed side walls extending over at least a portion of the recessed ends of said can, wall liner panels extending inwardly of said opposed side walls, and flaps formed in said liner panels, each flap being hinged to said liner panel at a point spaced from said base panel and being directed toward said base panel, said flaps engaging against the recessed ends of said can and marginally engaging the flanges for holding said can engaged in said carton.

6. A carton in combination with a recessed end can, said can having peripheral projecting flanges encircling opposite ends thereof, said carton including a base panel, a pair of opposed end wall panels, locking flaps connecting said end wall panels and holding said panels at substantially right angles to said base panel, side wall cover panels foldably connected to opposite sides of said base panel and foldable to overlie said looking panels, side wall liner panels foldably convnected to said side wall cover panels and foldable interiorly of said locking flaps, and tabs formed in said liner panels, said tabs being foldably connected to said liner panels at a point substantially spaced from said base panel and being directed toward said base panel, said tabs being engaged against the recessed ends of said can and marginally engaging said flanges.

'7. A carton in combination with a recessed end can, said can having peripheral projecting flanges encircling opposite ends thereof, said carton including a base panel, a pair of opposed end wall panels, locking flaps connecting said end wall panels and holding said panels at substantially right angles to said base panel, side wall cover panels foldably connected to opposite sides of said base panel and foldable to overlie said locking panels, side wall liner panels foldably connected to said side wall cover panels and foldable interiorly of said locking flaps, and tabs formed in said liner panels, said tabs being foldably connected to said liner panels at a point substantially spaced from said base panel and being directed toward said base panel, said tabs being engaged against the recessed ends of said cans and marginally engaging said flanges, an anchoring flap on one of said side wall liner panels, and a bottom liner panel on the other of said sidewall liner panels foldable to overlie said base panel and said anchoring flap.

8. A carton in combination with a pair of recessed end cans, said cans having peripheral v projecting flanges at opposite ends, said carton comprising a base panel, a pair of side wall panels extending at substantially right angles to said base panel, said side wall panels being designed to overlie at least a portion of the recessed ends of said containers, and flaps in said side walls, said flaps being connected to said side walls at a point spaced from said base panel and extending toward said base panel, said flaps being engaged against the recessed ends of said containers and against said flanges to hold said containers against said base panel.

9. A display carton in combination with recessed end cans, said cans having peripheral projecting flanges encircling the ends, said carton comprising a base panel, side wall panels extending at substantially right angles thereto, two opposed side wall panels being designed to overlie at least a portion of the ends of a pair of recessed end cans, flaps on said side walls extending into said recessed ends and marginally engaging said flanges to hold said recessed ends adjacent said base panel, strap means extending across said carton from the free edge of one of said opposed walls to the free edge of the other, said strap overlying a portion of said cans.

10. A display carton in combination with recessed end cans, said cans having peripheral projecting flanges encircling the ends, said carton comprising a base panel, side wall panels extending at substantially right angles thereto, two opposed side wall panels being designed to overlie at least a portion of the ends of a pair of recessed end cans, flaps on said side walls extending into said recessed ends and marginally engaging said flanges to hold said recessed ends adjacent said base panel, strap means extending across said carton from the free edge of one of said opposed walls to the free edge of the other, said strap overlying a portion of said cans, said strap comprising a pair of strap members integral with the opposed side walls and engaged in overlapping relationship.

11. A carton in'combination with a recessed end can, said can having a peripheral projecting flange encircling its ends, the carton including walls for partially enclosing the can, two of said walls being in substantially parallel relationship and extending transversely of the recessed ends of said recessed end can, and flap means hingedly connected to an edge of said parallel walls and folded to lie inwardly of the walls to which they are hinged, said flap means extending into the adjacent recessed end container and engageable with the peripheral flange encircling the recessed end to hold the can between said parallel walls.

12. The structure described in claim 11 and in which the flap means hold the cans from movement in one direction, and including means for holding the cans for movement in the opposite direction.

RUSSELL J. HENNESSEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,888,855 Fuller Nov. 22, 1932 1,912,952 Scruby June 6, 1933 2,033,526 Kinkenon Mar. 10, 1936 2,281,701 Larkin May 5, 1942 2,359,297 Brogden Oct. 3, 1944 2,411,134 Lambert Nov. 12, 1946 2,456,841 Rushing Dec. 21, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,705 Great Britain 1903 10,484 Great Britain May 4, 1906 549,188 Great Britain Nov. 10, 1942 

